Art Bridges Summer 2023 Internship Positions
Job Title: Art Bridges Summer 2023 Intern
Job Status: full-time, 8 weeks
Location: Bentonville, AR
Salary: $16/hr
Description
Art Bridges is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. The mission of Art Bridges is to expand access to American art in all regions across the United States. Since 2017, Art Bridges has been creating and supporting programs that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 215 museums of all sizes and locations to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, loans from the Art Bridges collection, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices.
Art Bridges summer interns will live and work in Bentonville for the eight-week session (June 5-July 28, 2023; 35 hours per week). Art Bridges will provide travel to and from Bentonville and housing for the duration of the internship. Applicants from all regions across the United States are encouraged to apply. Art Bridges is committed to a diverse workforce and to providing training for the next generation of museum professionals. Students from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. We do not require prior internship experience or an art-related major.
Available Internships (one internship per department):
For an overview of the Art Bridges Internship Program and all internship position descriptions, please visit our website https://artbridgesfoundation.org/art-bridges-internship-program/.
Internship Benefits and Perks:
- Compensation: $16/hour and/or course credit, 35 hours/week
- Travel costs (flights, transportation to/from the airport, and baggage fees) covered by Art Bridges
- Residential housing within walking or biking distance of the Art Bridges office.
Please note that a small number of interns will need to share a bedroom.
- Free rental bikes for the summer
- Participation in the Art Bridges Speaker Series
- Interns will attend career talks and presentations part of the Art Bridges Speaker Series, where professionals from all areas of the arts are invited to speak about their roles, academic backgrounds, professional accomplishments and challenges, and how they have arrived to their current positions.
- Site visits to regional cultural institutions
- Overnight trip to a city in the greater Southwestern or Midwestern region with the Art Bridges Fellows and other interns in Bentonville
- Professional development workshops
- DEAI training and coaching
- Networking opportunities with staff across Art Bridges and within other regional cultural institutions and organizations
- Social events and mixers with interns from Crystal Bridges, Walton Family Foundation, and more
- One-on-one introductory meeting with Art Bridges CEO
- Intern-led public speaking program, This American Art Life, in which summer interns present on current art news with support of the Curatorial department
- Regular intern-exclusive coffee hours
- Additional recreational and social activities such as cooking classes, forest therapy, biking days, and staff events
Internship Activities and Learning Experiences:
Training, duties, and learning opportunities for interns vary by department. To learn more about responsibilities and tasks, please refer to the internship job description for your department(s) of interest hyperlinked above.
Attributes of an Ideal Candidate:
- Currently enrolled in a university degree program (at the undergraduate or graduate level) or a recent graduate with an interest in entering the workforce as an emerging arts professional
- Collaborative and open-minded
- Detail-oriented and organized
- Dependable and punctual
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is required, and familiarity with research and Web-based search tools is strongly preferred
Preferred candidates will be passionate about expanding access to art with skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, research, communications, writing, and building interpersonal relationships. The intern should possess intellectual curiosity, flexibility, and openness to give and receive feedback. They will be interested in American art, community engagement, social justice, and diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI). Applicants must be prepared for a hands-on learning experience. The intern will have the opportunity to work with diverse partners, listen, ask questions, adapt, and collaborate.
Physical Demands, Work Environment & Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this opportunity. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Physical Demands: In the work environment described herein, the position requires work at a desk and utilizing a computer for prolonged periods of time, and excellent eye/hand coordination.
- Work Environment: In-person
- Computer Equipment: Laptops will be provided to interns.
- Background Check: Successful completion of a criminal background and reference check.
- Confidentiality: Must maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information
Other Information:
While this internship provides an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and ability, it does not create any expressed or implied guarantee of future employment with Art Bridges.
All interns will be considered temporary employees and responsible for all state and federal withholdings from all earnings and payments. Interns will be ineligible for health & retirement benefits, but will be covered under workers compensation insurance during the internship duration and while performing activities for Art Bridges.
Vaccination Policy:
In accordance with our duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, and to do our part in safeguarding the health of our co-workers and their families as well as the community at large from COVID-19 that will be reduced by vaccination, we are requiring all Art Bridges staff and interns to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by their start date as a condition of employment. According to the CDC, “fully vaccinated” means it has been two weeks since a person received the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or the single dose of Johnson & Johnson.
We strongly hope this policy decision will help to change the current landscape of infection rates in our community by creating a sense of urgency and proactivity. Our desire is to continue to fulfill our vision of transforming lives through Art Bridges mission. To do this, our first priority is to create a safe workplace.
Art Bridges’ Commitment to DEAI
At Art Bridges, diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are central to all work and decisions within our organization. We support our colleagues and our partners in learning and growing together to make this important work part of our daily lives.
Equal Opportunity Employment:
Art Bridges is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.